Originally posted as a two part series on the Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet blog. Part I: Vertical Farms: Finding Creative Ways to Grow Food in Kibera Driving through the crowded streets of Kibera, it's nearly impossible to describe how many people live in this area of about 225 hectares, the equivalent of just over half the size of Central Park in Manhattan. Everywhere you look there are people. People walking, people … [Read more...]
BorderJumping Ethiopia! One farmer teaches by example…
We met Kes Malede Abreha, described by our guides/interpreters as a "farmer-priest," on his farm near Aksum, Ethiopia in the Central Zone of Tigray region. A small, wiry, soft-spoken man with a neatly trimmed beard, Kes Malede is one of the leading "farmer-innovators" in his community. Roughly eight years ago, he started digging for water on his very dry farm. His neighbors thought he was crazy, telling him he would never find water on the site. … [Read more...]
Hong Kong in December: A Great In-Between
While most tourists prefer to head someplace warm and cozy to escape the cold of winter, I love to do just the opposite and head to Hong Kong. I am strangely drawn to the chill, the rains, and the wind. Besides, I also love the fact that while it is chilly, it does not snow, and no snow means no blizzards which is perfect for me. Hong Kong in winter is a refreshing and wonderful respite after an extended stay in tropical heat where it's 98 … [Read more...]
Notes from Dave’s India Journal
Here in India, where there is land there are people. Where there are people there is trash. Where there is trash there are cows. Where there are cows there is cow shit. Where there is cow shit there are people collecting the shit and making cow pies. Such is the state of the outskirts of Agra. We drove through fields where we saw many cow pies drying in the sun today on our way to an old Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri 40 clicks from Agra. … [Read more...]
Street Food in Penang
Penang, an island on the east coast of Malaysia, is home to beautiful beaches, a colonial splendor, and exotic imperial architecture. But, I return every year to eat from a little cart by the side of the road. And I am not alone. When the British set up the port of Penang, they created a confluence point for Chinese, Thai, Malay and Indian traders who brought their own foods and their own spices to the island. Street food is a way of life in … [Read more...]
Botswana Safari
Where does a person go if she wishes to view the largest elephants in the world in their natural habitat? Botswana, specifically she would embark on a Botswana safari to Chobe National Park. This park is so enormous it can claim four separate ecosystems. There are more than elephants to view of course; the area has an impressive predator population that includes lions and hyenas. Another spectacular destination for a Botswana safari is the … [Read more...]
Pittsburgh Weekend Getaway
The steel industry vacated Pittsburgh starting in the mid 1980's and by the mid 90's had almost entirely disappeared. With a hold on the industry of Pittsburgh for such a long time the loss of the steel mills happened rather quickly. However the legacy of the period of steel in Pittsburgh lives on; names like Carnegie, Mellon and Frick dot the city. As a testament to the resourcefulness of Pittsburgh, neighborhoods have since been revitalized, … [Read more...]
Toss the camera and open your eyes. Tales from Peru
I just returned from watching the sun set on the sandstone cathedral in Arequipa's Plaza de Armas. I sat on the bench with ice cream cone in hand watching the trabajadores on their 3rd day of a hunger strike. Some hung on large crosses with steps to hold their weight and others lay on the ground in sleeping bags. This visual is a good entry point into the realities of South America. After so many trips to lesser developed countries I find … [Read more...]
Off the Beaten Path to Paradise
It was a just a girl's getaway. We chose Amelia Island at the northernmost corner of Florida because we heard it was a lovely retreat without the usual tourist trappings of clogged roads, traffic jams and busy shopping malls with the same stores we had back home. The island is located 32 miles northeast of Jacksonville. The ride from the airport was about 40 minutes. The area which includes Fernandina Beach is well known to its closest … [Read more...]
Travel Spotlight: Jordan
Jordan is one of those fantastic countries that has an excellent balance between both natural and historical attractions. In this part of the Middle East everything is located "close" to one another. Jordan is surrounded by a number of countries, it is a small country itself and as a result all of the major attractions are usually within just a several hours drive of one another. The Jordanian people are very friendly and hospitable and are … [Read more...]
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